Why Sunderland brewery boss believes not many pubs will instantly reopen from April 12

Mark Anderson, the managing director of Maxim Brewery, which produces Sunderland’s legendary Double Maxim beer, believes the “costs will outweigh the benefits” for many venues once outdoor hospitality can return from potentially as early as April 12.

Responding to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s road map out of lockdown, Mr Anderson said: “I have my doubts that many pubs up here will open from April because it will not be worth their while at first.

"Not everywhere has a beer garden and those that do will still have to abide by social distancing measures with the rule of six and people unable to stand up.

"Then, of course, there’s no guarantee that the weather will be better at that point as it might be too chilly for people to go out.

“So you are still talking about limited numbers and in many cases the costs will outweigh the benefits.”

With Maxim Brewery requiring around a fortnight to brew and deliver to pubs and restaurants, it is likely to wait until the sector begins seating customers indoors – provisionally from May 17 – before resuming its cask ale production.

Mr Anderson said: “There are still as many questions as answers at the moment.

"We need around two weeks to turn around cask beer and we don’t want to disappoint the pubs who are reopening.

"But the dates aren’t fixed and we don’t want to produce beer which we then can’t sell because the opening date has been put back again.

"Plus the pubs need the numbers in to justify buying in the first place because with real ale it needs to be drunk within five days of opening.”

Maxim Brewery lost around £3,000 in costs and sales when it was forced to literally pour around 7,200 pints of festive ale down the drain when pubs were forbidden from reopening last December.

With reopening still at least six weeks away, Mr Anderson is hoping Chancellor Rishi Sunak will support the hospitality sector in next week’s Budget by providing more grants, extending furlough and introducing a rates-free period.

In the meantime, Maxim is continuing its popular drive-through bottled takeaway service at its Rainton Bridge premises.

Further details are available from (0191) 5848844.

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